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iOS 6 Hands On: 10 Killer iOS 6 Features

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iOS 6 is the most exciting version of iOS since I started using an iPhone or an iPad, so I couldn’t wait to install the iOS 6 beta on the iPhone 4S.

The iOS 6 beta includes over 200 new features, but these ten features are the ones that steal the show and welcome you to the new iPhone experience.

In iOS 6, Apple brings jailbreak tweaks and favorite Android features to the masses.

Officially you can’t get iOS 6 until the fall, but if you follow our guide to installing the iOS 6 beta today, you can try out these iOS 6 killer features.

10 Killer iOS 6 Features

After spending a few hours playing with iOS 6 on the iPhone 4S, here are the best iOS 6 features I’ve found. From major changes like maps and opening Siri to small changes like the placement of Bluetooth, here are my favorite new iOS 6 features.

Siri Sports Addict

iOS 6 Hands On Siri Sports

Siri can check the scores of games like the Stanley Cup, but that’s not all. Siri can also display player stats, so I can check in on Melky Cabrera to show Xavier I know who he’s talking about. Siri can also find team rosters, schedules and more in iOS 6.

Open Apps with Siri

iOS 6 siri app launching

It’s awesome to tell Siri to open an app and boom, it’s open. As long as I have a good connection the app opens instantly. It’s much faster than finding an app buried in a folder on my third home screen. When I told Siri to open Pandora the app opened and started playing the last station I listened too. Siri can also post directly to Facebook and Twitter.

Maps and Turn-by-Turn Navigation

iOS 6 Hands On - Turn by Turn directions

The new Maps app with 3D images looks stunning, delivering an eerily accurate 3D look at my house. I’ll be taking turn-by-turn voice guided navigation for a drive tomorrow, but so far it looks great and fills a much-needed hole.

Facetime 3G

iOS 6 Hands On - FaceTime over 3G

I rarely use FaceTime, but now that FaceTime works over 3G on the iPhone 4S I will video call my wife and team members more often. It’s amazing how nice it is to call without the need for WiFi. Video quality takes a hit, but it’s still fun and usable.

Facebook Integration

iOS 6 hands on Facebook sharing

I share many pictures to Facebook, and now that I can share right from the Photos app I’ll be sharing many more photos. I’m not sold on Facebook contacts invading the contacts app, but it’s easy to turn off.

Tap to Tweet and Share

iOS 6 Hands On - Tweet Share Notification Center

I share updates on Facebook and Twitter constantly, so it’s great to Tap to Tweet or Tap to Post right from the Notification Center. I’ll still use the Tweetbot and Facebook apps for conversations, but this is great for fast updates. Too bad there’s no way to update Facebook and Twitter at the same time from the Notification Center.

Do Not Disturb Mode

iOS 6 Hands On - Do Not Disturb

I’m already setting up Do Not Disturb mode to prevent random notification interruptions when I finally go to sleep. It’s nice that iOS 6 Do Not Disturb mode allows me to set a list of callers who can get through, and that it won’t silence a 2nd call from a caller if they call back within 3 minutes in case it is an emergency.

Music Alarms

 iOS 6 Hands On - Music Alarms

When it comes to waking up, it’s always better with Music. Now the stock Clocks app can wake you up with music in your iTunes playlist.

Better Phone App

iOS 6 Hands On - Smarter Phone App

I’ve already used the improved phone app to decline a call and respond with a text message, and I’m sure I’ll use the new remind me to call back feature heavily in the coming days.

Bluetooth in Settings

 iOS 6 Hands On - Bluetooth Setting

Apple finally makes it easy to get to the Bluetooth settings toggle. I’m constantly changing Bluetooth devices and toggling Bluetooth off and on to save battery life. The new menu placement isn’t as good as the NC Settings widget that places the toggle in the Notification Center of jailbroken iPhones, but it’s a nice improvement.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. techgeek32

    06/12/2012 at 1:07 pm

    Most of these features, except Siri have been around on other OS’s for quite some time now. I hope Apple doesn’t try to take credit for them. Still no toggle for Wifi or Bluetooth. Really, you still have to do it through settings. The deal breaker for me is still no improvement for attachments in email. How can Apple continue to overlook their mail and calendar apps? They will never move improve their enterprise market share with these average implementations of important apps. I will pass on the new iPhone unless they add these other features before launch. Apple still thinks they can pull the wool over their customers eyes. Their time is running out!

    • Jim

      06/12/2012 at 3:35 pm

      “The deal breaker for me is still no improvement for attachments in email”

      Actually, the deal breaker for you is probably money.

      The best tech. costs $$ my friend. Don’t be a hater…

      • TK

        10/29/2012 at 4:27 pm

        Typical Apple dumbass

    • Seth

      10/27/2012 at 9:00 pm

      Agreed, while these features may be new to iOS, they have been on other phone OSs for several years.

  2. Rj

    06/22/2012 at 8:26 pm

    I agree with tech geek – the biggest problem I have with my iPhone is that it’s hell to attach a file to an email. You need 3rd party programs to do it and it’s a huge hassle. Clue, Apple – business people need to send attachments.

  3. Josh

    06/28/2012 at 5:45 pm

    Im a developer and have been using ios6 for 3 weeks now its very stable and if you’d like to use ios6 before its released to the public You can try it now i just need to register your udid. If you’re interested in running ios6 today email me at [email protected] and i can register you.

    • robwolf

      08/04/2012 at 8:21 pm

      im interested very much [email protected]

    • Des

      11/19/2012 at 8:04 am

      Josh,, I have updated to IOS 6.01, but don’t have Facetime. How can I get facetime to show on my iphone 4S?

  4. Chris

    07/27/2012 at 11:32 am

    Actually, you can now attach files to an email when composing it. No longer do you have to initiate the email with the photo.

  5. Bo

    09/20/2012 at 1:41 pm

    Too bad the maps app is totally worthless with out Bluetooth support.

  6. Mike

    09/30/2012 at 8:51 pm

    Ok um…this is BS. Ok fine siri can google sports. Wow. -.- Siri opening apps should not be necessary…that’s what multitasking is for. It has been made clear that maps on ios6 suck alot. Turn by turn navigation is ass. And android has been doing it from the beginning! They even upgraded the voice on Ice cream Sandwich and it sounds natural unlike it uses to and is so easy to work with. Video chatting on the phone, again has already been done and it sucks on all mobile devices. Plus the quality is terrible. Just make a phone call -_- facebook and twitter integration doesn’t effect everybody because not everyone needs or has that. Do not the disturb is the most unique thing on ios6. But then music alarms is like….wow that took a while for them to add. The phone app has alao been done before that’s just a basic catch up thing and FINALLY the bluetooth…are you kidding me? That should have been there A LONG TIME AGO! I want to like apple but they suck with things like this!

  7. Russell Chiles

    11/06/2012 at 8:54 am

    All of these features (plus hundreds more) have been available on Android handsets and tablets for a long time now. Apple is just playing catch-up and using a brainless Apple fanboi to promote their copycat features! Most of Crapple’s new apps may look pretty, but they are half baked and missing key features like bluetooth integration.

  8. Lmfao

    11/06/2012 at 4:38 pm

    Actually, most of those features except SIRI were available already since IOS 4 on Jailbroken apps in Cydia. Even for my iPhone 4, i can use Siri, lol. An exploited IOS with Cydia apps are the most powerful Mobile OS so far in my experience. Apple needs to embrace those developers :)

    • rs

      11/09/2012 at 8:08 pm

      i agree. IOS + cydia = the best! ios alone is not that great. that’s where jailbreaking comes along. you have to jailbreak your ios device to release its full potencial. enjoy.

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